Weight-Loss Stories: Mously Le Blanc, MD

Age: 36Occupation: Medical doctor in physiatry (physical medicine and rehabilitation) who works with cancer patients, and a certified relationship coach for womenBegan losing weight: September 2016Current weight: 138 pounds

Almost six years ago, with an A1C hovering around 5.8 percent, Mously Le Blanc was diagnosed with prediabetes. Carrying around extra weight from a 2014 pregnancy didn’t help; by September 2016, Le Blanc’s A1C had inched up to 6.2 percent. Hoping to once again hear the pitter-patter of precious baby feet, the Philadelphia-area physician was inspired to trim a few pounds from her 5-foot-1-inch frame. “My physician was concerned about me getting pregnant for a second time because pregnancy can negatively impact glucose control and my A1C was already too high,” she says. “Both my OB-GYN and primary care physician felt my risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy was very high.”

Le Blanc took action. She was prescribed 500 milligrams of metformin daily and set a goal of losing about 30 pounds before conceiving. She cut bread and chips from her diet and avoided processed foods and soda. Instead, she started cooking fresh foods regularly, filling up on brussels sprouts and using cauliflower to make mashed “potatoes” and pizza crust. She also began seeing a nutritionist, who helped her use a lower-carb eating plan to meet her weight goal, lose 5 percent of her body fat, and lower her A1C.

Le Blanc had been exercising three to five times a week, but to increase her fitness level, she began working with a trainer for two of those sessions. Three months later, after dropping three dress sizes and lowering her A1C to 5.7 percent, she feels well prepared for a healthy pregnancy and recovery. “Along with no longer needing to take metformin and having a much healthier A1C, I have noticed tremendous improvements in the health of my skin, my attention, and energy levels,” she says.

Check with your doctor before making changes to your eating or exercise plan.